New Zealand lost a World Cup match for the first time since the quarter-finals in 2007, snapping an 18-game winning streak. England has reached the final for the fourth time—no team has done it more frequently (level with New Zealand and Australia). The All Blacks will try to end that drought when they take on Ireland in Yokohama next Sunday.
New Zealand won the World Cup in 1987, 1993, 1997 and 2003. They are the only country to have achieved this feat.
They were defeated by Australia in the 1995 semifinal, but this was after defeating France, South Africa, Italy and India on their way to the top of the world. Since then, no other side has been able to beat them twice at the World Cup stage.
Their only other loss came against England in the 2007 quarter-final. It is a series of ties between these two countries - New Zealand has won 13 matches while losing 13. This is the highest number out of any other pair in World Cup history.
The last time New Zealand lost a World Cup match was on July 2, 2007 when England claimed victory by 24 points to 19. This is the first time they have lost after leading at halftime of a World Cup match.
France lost the Rugby Union World Cup final three times: 29-9 to New Zealand in 1987, 35-12 to Australia in 1999, and 8-7 to New Zealand in 2011. England has lost the final twice, once to Australia and once to South Africa.
England last won the Rugby World Cup in 2003, when they defeated France 25-0 at the conclusion of their group stage game. This is now known as "the greatest victory in English rugby history".
Before this win, England's only other win in the competition was in 1991 when they beat Australia 19-9 at the quarter-final stage. That is the only time England have ever reached the semi-finals of the tournament.
France won the previous two finals they played in, defeating Australia 24-8 in 1979 and then beating Wales 12-6 in 1983. They are the only country to retain the trophy.
Australia also lost the first final they played in, being beaten 16-10 by England at the third-place play-off stage. However, since then they have become one of the most successful nations in the sport, having won the cup on five occasions - in 1995, 1997, 2001, 2009, and 2013. The Australian team that lost to England in 2003 went on to claim the title four years later.
Three nations have reached a Rugby World Cup Final after losing a game in that tournament: England in 1991 and 2007, South Africa in 2019, and France in 2011, the latter being the first side to reach the final after losing two games. All three countries have gone on to win the cup.
England lost 16-15 to Australia at the 1991 World Cup in Tokyo when David Campbell scored one try for each side. The match was tied 11-11 at half time before Australia scored four tries in a row to go into the break with a 12-11 lead.
Two years later, at the 1993 World Cup in Brisbane, Australia beat England 21-18. It was the first time that England had been defeated by Australia in a World Cup match. The Wallabies took advantage of five drop-goals by Jonny Wilkinson to claim their first trophy.
In 2007, South Africa lost to France 14-6 in the last 16 in Cardiff. The French won all their group matches while the Springboks only managed to draw one game. However, South Africa went on to win the overall title because they were ranked higher than France. This is how they achieved a perfect season on points level with New Zealand.
France's best-ever finish in the World Cup was also their first one: fourth place.
After a hammering of three-time world champions New Zealand, England has reached its first Rugby World Cup final in 12 years. England had raced out to a 10-0 lead, with Manu Tuilagi's second-minute score and a long-range penalty from George Ford fitting rewards for a ferocious first half. But when the break came around, everything changed.
The All Blacks hit back with two quick tries - one from 50 meters out and another after a mistake by Joe Marler - and then they struck again late in the game when replacement winger Simon Hickey scored an unlikely try under the posts. In the end, it was not enough to prevent England's dream run coming to an end.
New Zealand will meet Australia in the other semi-final on Saturday night. The winner will face France in Sunday's final (AEDT).
England played some fantastic rugby over the last month or so but there were times when they just didn't show up. They started well but once they went behind they seemed to lose all confidence - they never looked like scoring again. At times they played some superb rugby but they were too easy to play against - they didn't take their chances when they came along. They might have been without their captain Chris Robshaw but they still couldn't find a way through the New Zealand defense. It's a shame because they've proven themselves time and time again to be one of the best teams in the tournament.
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